Younis al-Mauritaniâs arrest, made public six days before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, is likely to create chaos within the terror organisation.

He is said to have been planning to attack gas and oil pipelines, power generating dams and oil tankers using speed boats filled with explosives.

Even if he does not reveal compromising information, that possibility is almost certain to force the network to alter plans, move operatives and make sudden changes â damaging its ability to carry out attacks.

Pentagon terror experts believe there are still four important al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan and up to 20 leaders spread over Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

Mauritani’s arrest will be yet another setback after the al-Qaeda deputy leader Atiyah Abd al-Rahman was killed in Pakistan.